MMA Conflict: Dvalishvili Accuses Nurmagomedov of Abu Dhabi Assault

The aftermath of a scuffle in Abu Dhabi has escalated into a public dispute between two prominent mixed martial artists. Merab Dvalishvili, the former UFC bantamweight champion, alleges that Usman Nurmagomedov and several others assaulted him and a companion during a promotional event.

Dvalishvili released a video on Wednesday showing him receiving medical attention. In the footage, he appears visibly bruised and bloody. He stated that he and his friend were approached from behind by Nurmagomedov and his group while promoting the Real American Freestyle organization. Dvalishvili described the attack as sneaky, noting that the group emerged from behind like snakes. He questioned the character of the fighters, asking why they chose to attack two people from behind rather than fighting in a traditional manner.

Ilia Topuria, the former two-division UFC champion, amplified the incident by uploading footage of the attack. Topuria captioned the post by calling the group cowards who would be held accountable. He added that they were anything but real men. The video circulated widely, including a version that included a slap that had been edited out of earlier clips.

Dvalishvili provided further details in a written social media post. He claimed the incident began in a hotel lobby during an interview for RAF. He wrote that Nurmagomedov and his buddies started punching him and his young friend from behind. Dvalishvili noted that security held him down while the attackers kicked them when they were on the ground. He insisted he was physically fine but criticized the method of the assault as cowardly. He repeated the sentiment that real men fight openly, not by kicking opponents who are down.

Tensions between Dvalishvili and the Nurmagomedov brothers have existed since their January 2025 bout. Dvalishvili, who was the bantamweight champion at the time, defeated Umar Nurmagomedov by unanimous decision to retain his title. The rivalry has now expanded to include Usman Nurmagomedov, who is currently a free agent. Usman was recently signed to the Professional Fighters League after a stint with Bellator. He has been present at recent UFC events.

The Nurmagomedov brothers are cousins and trained under Khabib Nurmagomedov. Khabib is a retired former UFC champion and Hall of Famer. He is well known for leaping into the crowd to attack Dillon Danis after submitting Conor McGregor at UFC 229. That incident sparked multi-man brawls both inside and outside the Octagon. The current dispute follows a similar pattern of physical confrontation and public accusation between the camps.

Dvalishvili maintained his toughness in the video, telling his followers he was a fighter and did not need to worry about his condition. He emphasized that he and his friend were warriors, contrasting their standing with the attackers who he described as using sneaky tactics. The incident has drawn attention from across the MMA world, with Topuria's endorsement of the video adding weight to Dvalishvili's claims of an unprovoked ambush.